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Shower Curtain Tutorial

Monday, August 23, 2010

This is my biggest project so far. Avery's new bathroom is well on it's way to cuteness. I'm waiting to finish a few more accessories and a curtain, but I wanted to pass on a little tutorial for the shower curtain.

Cutting Your FabricThe total finished size of this curtain is 72” x 72”. If you need a longer curtain, adjust the measurements accordingly. This is a pretty standard size for the curtain liners.

The following is a cutting diagram for your use. The dimensions here include a typical seam allowance of ½” with a 5” seam allowance at the top and a 3” seam allowance at the bottom for the hems. The side hems have a 1” seam allowance.

SewingStart with the patchwork columns. Place the blocks right sides together and pin. Sew the seam using a ½" seam allowance. Continue sewing the blocks together until you have formed a column. I used my serger to finish the seams, but if you don’t have a serger check out other methods for finishing the seams here. Press all seams so they are facing down on the curtain.

Next, sew the solid columns to the pieced columns in the order shown in the diagram above. Finish the seams with your chosen method and press the seams towards the center of the curtain.

The skinny stripe above the columns is pieced with two widths of fabric. Sew the seam and press to one side. Sew this piece to the top of the columns and press the seam down. Finally, sew the top white piece and press the seam down. If you are using a sheet here, you do not need to piece anything. If you used a yard of fabric you will need to piece together two widths of fabric.

HemmingHem the sides of the curtain first. Turn the edge to the wrong side of the fabric and press at ½”. Turn another ½” and press. Top stitch close to the interior folded edge. Alternately, you can serge the edge of the fabric then turn in once and top stitch (as shown below.) Hem the other side of the curtain.

Hem the bottom of the curtain by folding the fabric to the wrong side 1.5” and press. Fold another 1.5” and press. Top stitch close to the interior folded edge.

Fold the top edge of the curtain down to the wrong side 2.5” and press. Fold another 2.5” and press. Before you top stitch, cut 2” strips of interfacing and fuse per the manufacturer’s instructions inside the hem allowance. This will add stability to the curtain at the buttonholes for the hooks. Once the interfacing is in place, top stitch the hem. Top stitch next to the top of the curtain as well.

ButtonholesNext, mark the button hole locations on the top of the curtain. You can use your curtain liner as a guide. My holes are about 6.5” apart and the tops of the holes are 1” down from the top of the curtain. There should be 12 holes. I made mine ½” long. Stitch your button holes using the method your sewing machine provides. Open the button hole slit using a seam ripper.

You’re finished! Hang your curtain and enjoy!

I used fabrics by Dena Designs, Jennifer Paganelli, and Michael Miller. Let me know if you have any questions!